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SEIA is the solar energy industry’s go-to source for the latest coverage on solar power, including U.S. and international policy, research and polls, business and financing trends, and more. Our staff strives to support the media covering solar energy issues and guide our members on effective media outreach with clear statements, background materials, news and multimedia resources.

SEIA is committed to informing policymakers, the media, and the American public about the benefits of solar energy for today’s communities, our economy, and our country.

Vivint, a leading provider of smart home technology, today announced that CEO Todd Pedersen will be featured on the season finale of CBS’s award-winning series “Undercover Boss,” Friday, February 20 at 8 p.m. EST.

The Southern California desert is now home to the world's largest solar power plant. U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell joined state officials on Monday to open the 550-megawatt Desert Sunlight solar project in the town of Desert Center, Calif., near Joshua Tree National Park. Built by First Solar, the project generates enough electricity to power 160,000 average California homes.

WASHINGTON, DC – In a new report, the Department of Energy (DOE) has highlighted the success of the Loan Programs Office’s solar projects, saying that since it financed its first five utility-scale projects in 2011, 17 additional projects have come on line without the use of loan guarantees. The report coincides with the dedication ceremony of Desert Sunlight, a 550-megawatt (MW) solar project in Riverside County, California.

WASHINGTON, DC – In a move that will increase the use of solar heating in California, the state’s Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has increased the incentive caps in California Solar Initiative's (CSI) Solar Thermal Program for multifamily, commercial, and pool heating systems. Applauding the decision, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) President and CEO Rhone Resch issued the following statement:

WASHINGTON, DC – Pointing to huge growth in the U.S. solar industry, the 2015 edition of the Sustainable Energy in America Factbook, produced for the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, was released today. In response to the report, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) President Rhone Resch said:

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Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry, announced today that sPower, a leading renewable energy provider, has joined SEIA's board. Ryan Creamer, sPower's CEO, will serve as a director. Creamer has more than 20 years’ experience successfully pioneering the energy sector.

WASHINGTON, DC - Growing at an annual rate of more than 20 percent – far outpacing the growth of the overall U.S. economy, a new report released today shows that the U.S. solar industry added more than 31,000 jobs in 2014, bringing total employment in the sector to 173,807 workers. The results were released by The Solar Foundation (TSF), a widely-respected, non-profit organization.

WASHINGTON, DC - A new study released today by the NC Clean Energy Technology Center finds that investing in a 5 kilowatt solar system can be a better deal than investing in a stock market index fund in 46 of America’s 50 largest cities.

WASHINGTON, DC - Calling it “groundbreaking,” Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), today praised plans by Fortune 500 company Ecolab, a global leader in hygiene, energy and water technologies, to go “all solar” at its worldwide Minnesota corporate headquarters. According to the company, Ecolab will acquire 16 megawatts (MW) of electricity from a 200 MW community solar garden, which is being developed by SEIA-member company SunEdison.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin was sworn in today for a third term and used his inaugural address, among other things, to outline an ambitious plan to increase the use of solar energy and other renewables across the state. Following his remarks, Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), released the following statement:

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The U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) announced today it has finalized the license agreement with Whitethorn Solar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Juwi Solar Inc. (Juwi), for a solar electrical generation system onsite at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. When completed, the power generated by this system will represent the DOE/NNSA’s largest purchase of solar power from an onsite facility and the first in its western region.

With over 35,000+ alumni worldwide, Solar Energy International (SEI) instructors, staff, students, and alumni are prepping for National Shout Out for Solar Day - January 16th.

This special day is meant to display visual support for solar energy by people from all over the country (and the world) by posting photos into social media with posters available through our friends over at the Solar Energy Industries Association.

Yet another half-gigawatt solar power project is coming on-line in California.

Late last year, the 550-megawatt capacity Topaz Solar project achieved full commercial operation and claimed the title of largest solar plant on-line in the world.

And now Topaz has to share the crown with First Solar's 550-megawatt Desert Sunlight project in Riverside, Calif., which went all-on this month, according to the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) website.

The dreaded "death spiral" hanging menacingly over the heads of leading utility companies across the globe need not come to pass said Elon Musk this week during a speech at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

If you’re planning to visit First Solar's Perrysburg, Ohio manufacturing plant and snoop into its dark corners, forget about it. There are no dark corners. It may be the brightest factory you’ve ever visited.

The clean, efficient manufacturing space was recently upgraded with LED lighting and the result would humble any automobile showroom.

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While battles rage with utilities taking on both solar customers and businesses around the country, Vermont has quietly expanded its net metering program by nearly four times its original size without so much as a skirmish.

While Americans know wind and solar energy is clean, they often aren’t aware of the economic success story behind these renewable energy technologies. Wind and solar power have economic benefits that reach far and wide.

As the SHC Alliance celebrates its 1-year anniversary this March, I wanted to take a moment and reflect on our achievements in 2013, and let you know about the exciting opportunities, as well as the collective challenges, our industry faces going forward.

The latest report released by SEIA/GTM, the Solar Market Insight Year in Review 2013, shows solar expanded rapidly last year to nearly 13 GW of installations in the U.S. – enough to power nearly 2.2 million homes. Watch our new video!

What would Alexandre Edmond Becquerel be thinking now? In 1839, at the age of just 19, Becquerel built the world’s first photovoltaic panel, later inspiring the imaginations of millions of people worldwide, including legendary scientist Albert Einstein. Still, it took another 115 years before Bell Labs invented the first modern silicon solar cell. By comparison, it’s no stretch to say that the solar timeline has rocketed forward at warp speed in recent years.

With the coldest winter in two decades gripping much of the country this year – and wild price swings for natural gas rattling the markets, not to mention American consumers – it’s easy for many people to overlook the “hot start” in 2014 for solar energy.

But so far this year, it’s been good news followed by even more good news for the U.S. solar industry.

On January 24, 1848 – 166 years ago today – a discovery was made at a place called Sutter’s Sawmill that would change the course of California and even American history. Gold was discovered near the old sawmill, setting off the California gold rush.

Today SEIA, along with the more than 1,000 member companies, celebrates the association’s 40th anniversary. With over 12 years in the solar industry, I can say it is amazing to see all that we have accomplished so far.